Hello! See, I didn't leave it too long till I updated- I just can't keep away!

Enjoy…..

Thorin gasped as if each of the Goblin-King's words were physical blows to his body.

He fisted his hands to stop them from shaking; eyes never leaving the figures of his two nephews up at the front.

His eyes welled up with angry tears; he blinked them away, mouth curling with fury. The two goblins holding his body with the others started to laugh with the rest of their horde, jeering and screeching as if egging each other on.

Thorin felt the strong, fiery feeling of hatred bubble up in his throat as he was forced to listen to them celebrate the imminent torture of his family. He pulled his arms away, but they grabbed him and tried to push him to his knees.

Thorin growled and forced himself to stay upright- he had to look at them, he had to be there for them; until he got his chance.

Up at the front, Fili was shaking his head, eyes wide. 'You listen, you gutless pig- let my brother go! Let him go, and we can settle this! Let him go….and you can have me!'

'NO! FILI NO!' Kili screamed, one eye closed as blood ran into it. Kili shook his head feverishly as his brother forced his head round. 'Don't be stupid!' he begged, voice cracking with pain and emotion. 'Don't you do this….'

The Goblin-King roared with laughter and wiped a tear from the corner of one huge eye. 'This is too precious! Sacrificing yourself for your brother? How noble of you…' it boomed, clapping his hands together. Each clap sounded like a round of thunder in the cave, the echo lingering.

Fili growled at the insults. 'I mean it!' he yelled, eyes dark and determined. 'Let him go!' before he could speak again, however, the rumble of more machines drowned him out.

Some of the goblins holding Fili suddenly let go; he twisted his body to see where they had gone. They had run over to Kili like rats; he watched them untie his brother and drag him by his arms like an animal. Kili's head was bent low, his body limp. Fili felt his heart leap into his mouth, his body went cold.

'Kili? Brother…..' he whispered as he was brought near- but not near enough to touch, or to comfort. Fili's face hardened with unmarked fury; with strength he didn't even know he had he jumped up, sending the goblins scattering for moment, before they jumped back on him- this time they couldn't beat him down. He stood, facing the King, face white with anger.

'IF HE DIES YOU WILL REGRET IT!' he roared, voice strong. 'LEAVE HIM ALONE!'

The Goblin-King pretended to be scared; it fell back into its chair, hand to his heart. 'What a brave dwarf! What a wondrous warrior, what a hero…..' it sat forwards, eyes shining with cruelty. 'I don't like heroes.' It whispered, before looking pointedly behind the two dwarves.

Fili looked round, heart racing; the machines were in place. He looked into the crowd, at the scared, wide eyes of his fellow dwarves.

It suddenly dawned on him what just was about to happen here, if he didn't do something about it. They were going to be tortured for information, in front of everyone.

His eyes sought his uncle, but he found that Thorin wasn't looking at him- he was looking around the cave like he was choosing a new home.

He resisted the urge to spit on the floor. He felt nothing but hatred at this moment for him.

He looked down at his brother, who was now struggling to sit up, for he had three goblins all trying to pull him to the floor. 'Kili- be strong, don't break; everything will be ok.' He didn't smile comfortingly, for he now had no comfort to give; he just hoped his words were comfort enough.

He nodded once at this little brother; Kili offered him a small, weak smile, blood congealing black onto his white face.

Moments later, he was dragged to his feet, and pulled stiffly away from his brother and nearer to the machines. 'Fili…..FILI!' Kili yelled, giving in to his fears, not caring if they made him sound like a child. He didn't want this to happen, didn't want to be here anymore….

'Please don't do this! We don't know anything!' he continued, and with each word Fili's heart broke into more pieces.

After all the torture, after all the pain- his brother was still lying for their uncle- He only hoped he would match his strength.

He watched, mouth open in terror, as Kili was dragged to one of the stocks; one of the goblins tore at his cloak, finally ripping it off and flinging it to the ground- his shirt was next; the sound of ripping cotton and fabric seemed louder than natural.

Finally, bare-chested, his brother was pulled, groaning and struggling, onto the machine; his head and shoulders went on the top, the heavy wooden bar encasing them to the contraption. 'Please….' He heard his brother shout, although now he couldn't see his face again- he was facing the front once more.

Fili felt himself shaking, whether in fear or anger he now couldn't tell. He growled and spat like an animal as he too was no forced over to the other stock.

'You'll regret this!' he yelled behind him, at the Goblin-King. He heard deep laughter as his reply.

Fili looked at his fellow dwarves; they had all started to struggle against the goblins, yelling dwarvish curses and growling like beasts as they tried to fight the horde- looking up, Fili could see more goblins running down to join the others, and soon there were five to every dwarf.

Thorin looked up at his youngest nephew; Kili was looking to the floor, blood dripping in gloopy strands from his face to the stone.

He tried to make a noise to get his attention without attracting it from the goblins surrounding him; his heart plummeted, hot anger and cold shock running into his face as Kili, not hearing him, sniffled and shook his head slowly, wincing.

He growled and struggled against the creatures holding him; his arms were bent behind his back so he couldn't even move them. He could feel himself shaking as he looked at his fellow company- some were still yelling to the front, others were glaring, lips curled in anger.

'What do we do?' Bofur yelled in his ear; Thorin turned as well as he could- Bofur's hat was askew, his usual smile replaced by a look of horror and concern.

'I- I don't know….give me a minute-'

'They don't have a minute! We need to act now o-'

'I know what we have to do! I said give me a minute and I'll deal with this!' Thorin hissed, struggling against the strength of the goblins as he tried to make Bofur understand.

Bofur scoffed, eyebrows raised, but didn't reply. That hurt more than anything.

Up at the front, Fili let himself be manhandled up to the second stock that was next to his brother. Kili looked up as he felt his brother near him; although he couldn't see him very well, he knew he was there. He tried to call out his name, but found his throat had gone dry; he coughed a few times, wincing as it moved his cut face.

He turned his head as much as he could; his neck and arms were both encased in the stock- he could feel his hands going a little numb.

Fili took a deep, steadying breath as he was forced to his knees and his head was pushed into the stock; the top came down with a bang, and he was forced to look forwards.

'No no, this will not do!' came the roar of the Goblin-King. The Goblins in the room quietened, eyes racing to their master. 'No- have them facing each other! I want them facing each other!' he boomed, clapping his hands to get his goblins moving.

Fili saw his brother look up, wide eyed, as he was pulled backwards and away to the side- seconds later he was pulled as well; pain erupted in his back as the muscles strained against the unwanted movements.

The next time Fili looked up; he was facing his little brother, their eyes boring into each other's.

Kili felt his brother's penetrating gaze; he knew he was looking him up and down, checking for damage he may not have seen. After that, Fili gave him a slow nod; he returned it, grateful.

'Now we're all settled…..' the Goblin-King roared to the room at large. '…..Bring forth the whip.'

The Goblin's started chattering and screeching once more as a large goblin was handed the Knout. He flicked it lazily on the ground, before properly hitting it against the ground; the resounding crash was deafening; Fili saw his brother jump despite himself.

The dwarves started yelling above the goblins, their combined voices loud and angry; Fili heard his uncle's loud and clear; the anger in his voice made his heart leap- so he did feel something….

'Begin with the hero- let his brother see how heroes can be unmade….' The King spat, chuckling darkly.

Kili's head snapped up; he watched as his brother's cloak and shirt were also torn and removed, until his chest was bare and he could see his torso moving up and down with each laboured breath.

'Fili…no….' he muttered, not caring if his throat burned.

Fili looked up, and this time he did smile at his brother; he shushed him silently. Inside his head however, he was screaming in panic. How was he going to get them out of this?

He tensed his body; he knew it was the wrong thing to do, but he couldn't stop himself.

Seconds later, he did scream. The many-tailed whip smashed into his back, sending him forwards into the stock.

His skin was on fire, he knew- he would be ash in seconds. He supressed a sob, cursed the tears falling out the corners of his eyes; he couldn't let on to his brother what this felt like.

Kili however, could see. He yelled out, voice cracking as he tried to see the Goblin-King. 'WE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING WE KNOW! WE PROMISE! WE PROMISE!' he cried, willing his tears to stop.

Fili felt blood slide down his skin, warm and watery. He growled and shook his head, pushing the pain back.

'This is just for starters, boys!' The Goblin-King roared. 'Now for the other!' he yelled.

'NO! LEAVE THEM ALONE!' A lone, strong voice cut through the chattering of the goblins and the yells of the dwarves.

Thorin Oakenshield, eyes ablaze with fury, pushed himself- goblin captors and all- to the front of the crowd; he was now facing the King.

'I said leave them alone! We have done no wrong to you! They have answered your questions- now release them!' he shouted, shaking hand raised.

The Goblin-King laughed, low and dangerous. He flicked his fingers. 'Bring him up here- let him see how we deal with liars in Goblin-Town.'

Thorin growled at the goblins, but allowed himself to be pulled to the front and pushed to the floor. He looked across at his nephews, but could only see Kili. His face was white, his body shaking.

'I'm sorry….' He mouthed. Kili couldn't nod to agree; he just hoped his eyes held enough for his uncle to take comfort from.

As the Goblin-King began to speak once more, he looked up, eyes dark. 'These two dwarves are strong specimens of your kind-but I can break them….and I can break you, too.'

The words carried threats and malice, but Thorin was unafraid. 'If you touch one hair on m- on their heads again, we will go through this place and kill each and every one of you; if we don't, then our kin will- we will demolish this city like a flood!' he promised, shaking.

The Goblin-King laughed, and flicked his finger once more- before Thorin could even look round, there was a high-pitched crash, and his nephew screamed out in agony.

'NO! NO I SAID NO!' He yelled, turning to find Kili, mouth open in a silent scream, eyes squeezed shut.

'PLEASE! Please…..' he turned back to the King.

'…..Is the great Thorin Oakenshield…..begging to me?' the Goblin-King muttered. 'Oh this is just too good.' It laughed.

Thorin sneered, not caring what anyone thought of him. His family needed him. 'Please, let them go!' he ventured.

'No, I shall not, and you- not I- shall regret the day you came upon us. Again!' he cried to his goblins. Thorin yelled as the whip came down on Kili once more; his nephew's voice cracked as he yelled out.

Fili wanted to close his eyes against everything that was happening, but he couldn't- he wanted Kili to be able to look at him properly when he ever looked up.

He struggled against the thick wooden machine, sobs racking his body; he could hear Kili whimpering from in front of him. 'Take me! Leave him and give it to me!' he yelled, falling against the stock, exhausted.

The Goblin obliged- it ran around to Fili's side, squealing with animalistic enjoyment. Fili saw his brother finally look up; his eyes had darkened, the glint was gone.

Seconds later, and the whip came crashing down on his back. He jumped, eyes shut against the agony as he felt fresh blood make its way down his back.

'Leave them alone!' he heard his uncle shout from behind. He heard emotion this time, clearer than ever. He looked up to see Kili weakly resting onto the stock, his knees beginning to sag, his eyes fluttering.

'No….no, Kili!' he gasped out, trying vainly to harness his brother's attention. 'Kili please…..' he begged, voice cracking.

How was he going to get them out of here?

To be continued…..

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Thanks for reading, please review!

Xxx